*Week Skip*
Dan P.O.V
I woke up early today; I hardly can sleep because of the nightmares haunting me every night. Will I ever really get to see Phil again or was it all a set up? Maybe Phil is dead. Maybe. I will find out tomorrow, I am going to that address, I will try save Phil if all else fails. I will go with that man.
I groan and rub my eyes, swinging my legs out of the creaky spare bed. Allie and Karl seem like pretty nice people, I think I can trust them. I at least hope I can. I pick up my phone which was on charge it was flashing with a new message, unknown number. I quickly unplugged it and swiped across avoiding breaking down at the background of me and Phil, typing in my pass code. I scan the message.
"Hello Daniel. Just reminding you. Remember about tomorrow, I can see the river from where I'm standing I could easily dismiss Philip in 5 minutes without any questions. You have until 9pm tomorrow night, or else."
A frown appeared on my face as I read through it. It wasn't that far to the river, it really wasn't. I'm near it, I figured out East Philip Street is just a few minutes from where I am, I had to make sure I didn't run out and try to get Phil. I couldn't risk a thing. Not if guns were involved. I hope Phil realises I didn't want to leave him another weak. Maybe he hasn't been treated that badly, who am I kidding?
I sigh and wriggle out from my covers, cool air instantly wraps around my body. I grab a shirt from my unpacked bag and shove it on while walking down stairs trying not to make much noise as Allie and Karl are still asleep.
I put the bread in the toaster and waited. I tapped my finger on the counter while I thought about everything. What if Phil was dead? Maybe he didn't want to be saved? What if he wasn't at that place? I'll know tomorrow, I need to stop worrying. I need a relaxing last day. I don't want to die, but I most likely will. Why is life so complicated?
I start to feel my breath quickening; I don't know why I'm getting so scared. It's for Phil. its all for my love. I break down and slowly fall to the floor sliding down the counter onto the floor, I kept my knees up at my chest, wetting my PJ bottoms with tears. I zone out of reality and zone into an endless field of memories, nightmares and everything. I start to rock back and forth on my knees.
*flashback*
"Daddy! Why do have to come work with you, I want to watch Winnie the Pooh!" I moaned as I took my seat on the train. My dad sighed and seat besides me.
"Daniel, you have to. It could be your future" I could here a quiver in his deep tone.
*at destination*
"Daniel. Please, don't freak out when this man comes. Ok?" he says patting my back" I was stuck watching this event from above it all, I couldn't bare to re-watch this day any longer I tried closing my eyes but I couldn't. I didn't want to watch how my dad died. I don't want this. I wanted to go down and make myself say 'yes' then maybe. Just maybe, dad would still be alive.
"Ah! The two Howell's" it definitely was the man from Toby's house the other day. When I watched the view, I saw a face in the window of the house he had came from, it was Phil's face. Why was Phil there? It may not even be him. But he looks so much like Phil. My Phil. I scream and shout at the scene trying to change time but it was like my vocal chords had been ripped out as no sound escaped my mouth.
"So, Daniel." I saw something behind his hand, that gun. That was the gun he killed dad with. I let a tear roll down my cheek. "Want a job? Want to work with daddy?" the man cooed.
Then it came. The word that ended fathers life. My poisoned word. My first hint of poison in my veins that attacks everything and everyone I love. "No" I saw him pull the gun out and bring it to my dad.
"What was that, sonny? No? Well… I guess daddy has to go bye-bye" Then he shot. I screamed and cried both in the flashback and myself. I had just re-watched the most hated day in my life. I watched myself run; I couldn't stop or change anything.
I heard shaking and my name being called and I slowly went back into reality.
*Reality*
"Dan? You ok?" I hear someone say above me.
"Mm-hh?" Is all I can make out, I'm still in a daze, I start to shake when I remember what I just watched.
"Dan! You're shaking, what happened darling?" I look around to find Allie's sweet green eyes, but my eyes just widen and I shake my head, tears threatening to spill from my eyes any moment.
"N-Nothing. I- I- I'm fine Allie" I stutter out hopelessly thinking that I have convinced her.
"Daniel. Don't lie. Its ok, I won't judge. Did you have a panic attack?" she says gently tilting her head, trying to coax the words from me.
"Y-yeah. I- I- I'm sorry. I'm o-o-ok now" I said trying to stand up. I didn't want to tell her what about. But she just sat me back down.
"Careful Dan. Calm down first ok?" I nod and then I hear footsteps coming down stairs at first I jump but then Karl's face appears around the door frame and into the room.
"Hi Dan" He speaks as he gets a bowl and cereal.
"Hey… Er- guys? I have to er- leave tomorrow. Do you need any money or-" I got cut off.
"No need for money silly! We were blessed for you to stay with us. A right character!" Allie smiles at me, I smile back. I'm glad she is a nice girl, otherwise that would have been a high price for my now £25.
"Thanks so much! I'll be out by 9pm promise!" I grin and then my toast pops from the toaster. I feel a bit better now, shoving the thoughts to the back of my mind.
Me, Karl and Allie go into the lounge turning on repeats of Doctor Who, until mid-afternoon.
I don't want to leave this moment, but I have to so I can find Phil.
Phil P.O.V
I was getting weaker. Some days I couldn't even get the strength to arise from my sleeping position on my bed. Every part of my body was throbbing, every part was aching. I was dying, slowly and painfully. I remember that voice ringing through my head a week back. If it was being truthful then tomorrow would be the day Dan will save me. He would come right? I don't want to give up on him, he means too much to me.
I groan when I move at the slightest, Jonathan got another 'mate' to come here last night, he was rough and now I barely can move without a shocking pain down my spine. I'm weaker than I've ever felt. Right now I could really do with a hug. Not just any hug, Dan's hug. Some how my mind is always going back to Dan. I don't want it to, it gives me more pain knowing I may never get to feel his soft lips against mine. I feel so dirty and betrayed. It seems all I have been over the last 8, nearly 9, months is a punch bag, a loser and most importantly a worthless human being who's existence on Earth doesn't even matter any more.
I let my mind drift to the happy times I shared with Dan. They're the only happy memories I have, just Dan. I remember the first time I woke up and saw him by me, my tummy had been filled with butterflies at the thought of such a beautiful boy sat by me.
Then it went to when I first kissed him, as cliché as it seems, I felt like mini fireworks went off in my heart and then everywhere in my body as we talked about it, and then getting together. Everything back then seems so far away, so distance. Will I ever see another happy day with my Dan?
I start to feel bitter coldness dribbling down my cheek. Tears. I don't want all them memories t be my last happy ones. I can't live off a few memories for the rest of my life, definitely not if this is how I'm going to live till I'm old.
Maybe it's my fait to be trapped like this. I don't deserve happiness, as Jonathan said I'm a worthless fucking queer of a son. I should get the beatings I get because I have no other uses. I begin to think as if Dan can hear my idiotic calls.
Dan come quickly. I don't have long. I don't want to die here. I want to feel your warm arms one more time. Even if it is just one time. Anything. I need you Dan.
I got cut off my thoughts by Jonathan walking in my room with the phone to his ear, I gulped.
Dan P.O.V
I walk up to my room as the TV show we were watching finished. I decided I better pack the clothes I've worn, in front of time as then I can be fully prepared for tomorrow's events and have enough time to say a proper good-bye to Allie and Karl. I wish I could stay for their wedding which was in a week's time, but I don't think I will be even here anymore.
I was getting my bag from the other side of my room when I heard my ring tone. No one had called me since I got here. I had only got that one text this morning.
"Hello? Who is ca-" I cut myself off when I realised who was on the other side, it was him.
"Why hello Daniel! Long time since we spoke isn't it? Let me think… 6 years?" Yep. It was him, I shuddered as he spoke so casually. This was the man who had my Phil.
"Yes, 6 years. I remember you now. Why are you doing this?" I ask, holding back tears I can't let myself cry on the phone to him.
"Because I can. And also I need another toy. Hopefully you learnt your lesson with what happened to your papa right?" he sniggered down the phone, why is he doing this to me? I said no! But my poisoned words may strike again, they may get Phil killed. I'll have to surrender into him, I cant watch Phil die as well. He deserves a life of perfection not beatings and hurt.
"I- I did. B-But why have you got P-Phil?" I stutter out, I didn't mean to ask him but I felt like I had to as then I can know if Phil really is still with him, maybe I can speak to Phil.
"Oh Phil's perfectly fine." I heard footsteps, he was walking somewhere. "Speaking of which, I think Philip wants to tell you how much you need to come tomorrow" I heard a slight laugh coming from the other side and then a door. There was an obvious whimper coming through the phone. Phil.
"Phil! Can you hear me beautiful?" I said down the phone, instantly standing. I paced around the room as all I got as a reply was a few whimpers.
"D-Dan?" I hear. I sigh in relief.
"It's me baby. I'm going to get you out of there tomorrow. I promise" tear were now rolling down my cheeks. Phil was alive. Phil wasn't dead. Phil was going to be ok. I had to make sure of it.
"P-Please" more tears roll down my cheek. He sounds so broken, lost, hurt and everything I didn't want him to be. I heard a sharp 'slap' sound and then another cry and whimper. He was being abused, I knew it.
"Phil! What-" I got cut off when the mans voice boomed through the phone.
"Just get here tomorrow. Or Phil is going bye-byes. Good-bye Daniel. I'm glad to have you under contract – after so long" then the line went dead. I collapsed on my bed and began to cry. I was being weak, I heard the pain in Phil's voice, he really needed a saviour. I've not been able to be that saviour. I never will be. My brain felt like it would explode any minute now, I couldn't take it anymore. I dug my fingers between the strands of hair. And cried.
Brain. You've arrived at panic station.